Apparatus for pressure pouring articles



Dec. 29, 1964 E. Q. SYLVESTER 3,162,909

APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE POURING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l M! Q .1. BYWMWA Filed 001;. 25. 1961 4 Shets-Sheet 3 as 70 a0 22- 26 156 32 f:-

Dec. 29, 1964 E. Q. SYLVESTER 3,162,909

APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE POURING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L9 .42.

1 02 Jfk? f I J I INVENTOR.

wa e/L WW W) United States Patent 3,162,969 APPARATUS FOR PRRESURE PQURING ARTICLES Edmund Quincy Syivester, Shaker Heights, @hio Griii'in Wheel (30., 445 N. Sacramento Blvd, Chicago 12, Ill.)

Filed Get. 25, 15161, Ser. No. 147,631 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-82) This invention relates generally to the art of casting and more specifically to the method and apparatus for pressure pouring and casting of molten metals.

It is an object of this invention to provide a ladle structure having a ladle body with a pouring tube constructed externally of and secured to said ladle body for the pressure pouring of cast metal articles.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of pressure pouring metal articles with a ladle structure as generally defined above so as to eliminate or substantially minimize the possibility of metal freezing in the pouring tube duuring the period of time in which the molten metal is not under positive pressure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel sealing means by which the ladle assembly can be quickly and efiectively sealed from the atmosphere.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a ladle assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the ladle assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 4-4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in cross-section illustrating a modification of the invention.

Certain elements are, of course, eliminated from one or more figures for purposes of clarity- Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG- URES l and 2 illustrate a ladle assembly lowered, as for example, into a pit 12. The ladle assembly 10 is generally comprised of a ladle body portion 14 which may be formed of a generally cylindrical metal container 16 containing therein a refractory material 13 lining the interior walls thereof so as to define a chamber 20 for the reception of molten metal. The container 16 may, of course, be perforated as by a plurality of apertures 22 in order to provide a path of escape for gases which might otherwise.

tend to dislodge the refractory 18 from the walls of container 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a cover assembly 24 is shown in cooperative engagement with both the pit 12 and ladle assembly 10 in order to efiectuate an air-tight seal therebetween for the subsequent application of superatmospheric pressure thereto. The cover assembly 24 may be comprised of a top plate 26 secured as by welding to one end of a cylindrical member 28 which has secured at its other end a generally circular flange portion 39.

Any suitable insulating material 32. can be provided Within the cover assembly so as to retain the heat within the ladle assembly.

The pit 12 has a cylindrical extension 34 the top of which is formed to provide an abutting portion 36. A gasket 38, which may be a silicon rubber 0-ring, is provided between the top of the abutting portion as and the bottom of flange 3t) so as to efiect an air-tight seal therebetween.

3 ,162,969 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 Ladle assembly 10 also comprises a generally vertically extending pouring tube assembly 49 which may be secured to the container 16 as by gussets and flanges illustrated generally at 42, 44, 46, and 48. The pouring tube assembly 49 is comprised of a plurality of tubular casings 50 having suitable flange portions 52 for securing the casings to each other (see FIGURE 1, also). Any suitable gasket material, such as asbestos, may be provided between the cooperating flanges 52. An inner conduit 54, which may be formed of a plurality of tubular sections 56, has its one end in juxtaposition with orifice 58 formed in the bottom of the ladle body 14 and its other end terminating in a pouring spout assembly 60. Sections 56 are, of course, constructed of some suitable refractory such as clay tile. The space between sections 56 and casings 50, as also the space between the sections 56 and the lower box-like support member or cradle 64, is preferably filled with sand 62 for purposes of both support and insulation. Alternatively, cradle 64 could contain graphite therein for supporting refractory sections 56.

The pouring spout assembly may be comprised of an annular metallic member 66 having a graphite ring 68 inserted therein. Both member 66 an ring 68 may be supported as by a circular flange 70 suitably secured to casing 50. The conical surface 72 is, of course, to beplaced in sealing engagement with a mold assembly 74 during pouring.

Cover 26 has an aperture 76 formed therein for the reception therethrough of the pouring spout 60 of pouring tube assembly 49. A gasket 78 retained between top plate 26 and an annular adapter plate 80 provides an airtight seal therebetween. Aperture 82, formed in adapter 8%) is, of course, of a size suflicient to accommodate the pouring tube and spout.

In order to seal the ladle assembly from the atmosphere, I

provisions must be made to prevent any communication through aperture 82. This is accomplished by providing a bellows member 84, which may be constructed, as for example, from stainless steel, bolted as at its upper end to the adapter plate 80. A suitable seal is, of course, provided between the mating surfaces of the respective members.

The lower end of the bellows member 34 may also be provided with a flanged portion 86 which is adapted to cooperate With a second flange $8, formed on or secured to casing 50, in retaining a seal 90 therebetween. Al-

though other materials are, of course, available, a gasket formed of silicon rubber has been found to be effective. The bellows 84 is preferably selected so as to have its free length substantially greater than the distance between adapter 80 and flange 88 thereby causing the bellows 84 to be placed in a state of compression whenever the cover assembly 24 is lowered into place atop abutment member 36.

A stopper assembly 92, comprised of tubular ceramic sections 94 retained between a top plate 96 and a bottom stopper portion 98, is adapted to cooperate wtih orifice 58 formed in a liner 1% in controlling the flow of molten metal therethrough. A rod member 102 extending generally through said stopper assembly is suitably secured at its one end to stopper portion 98 and has its other end welding. Intermediate the ends of the stopper support bar, a passageway 118 is provided for the reception of one end of vrod member H92 which may be threaded so as toenable adjusting and locking nuts'lllS to be placed thereon and disposed on opposite sides of the support bar. pivotally secured to the support bar are adapted to be placed in locking engagement with guides 114 and 116 by means of slots 124 cooperating with annular recesses formed in the guides. Each end of support bar 1% is provided with a T-shaped bar 139 rigidly secured thereto adapted to be at times engaged with pressure responsive assemblies 126 and 128'. Both assemblies 126 and 128 are of the double acting type; that is, the shafts 13b and 1 32 and hook portions 13 and 136' are made to move inwardly or outwardly from their respective cylinders by the application of pressure thereto. When not in operation, thepressure responsive assemblies 126 and 128 may be moved to a position, illustrated by assembly 126,- wherein the shaft 130 is engaged by a retaining clip member 138. Stationary guards 140 and 142 may be provided to protect the assemblies 126 and 128 from damage during lowering of the ladle into the pit 12.

Operation According to the preferred mode of operation, thestopper assembly92 and support bar 103 are first lowered intothe ladle body 14 so as to completely close orifice 58. The locking devices 126) and 122 are then rotated into engagement with the annular recesses formed on guide members 114 and 116 in order to retain the stopper assembly in closed position. The molten metal is then poured'into chamber 20 and the ladle assembly is transported as by means of pairs ofaxially aligned trunnions'144, 146, 143, and 150 to'a suitable pit 12.

'Upon arrival at the pit 12, the ladle assembly 10 is lowered into the pit through the use of the guide blades 152 and 154, formed on the ladle assembly, cooperating ,with guidev sockets 156 and 158 in the. pit, The entire assembly is lowered until it comes to rest on its lower support members 160, 162, which preferably maintain the cradle 64: slightly above the level-of the pit floor 164.

The pressure responsive assemblies 126 and 128 are 7 then rotated outwardly away from the'walls of pit 12 until the hook portions 134 and 136 contact their respective T-b ars'109. Assemblies 126 and 128 are then actuated causing hook portions 134 and 136 to tend to draw the support bar 198 and stopper assembly 92 downwardly thereby maintaining orifice. 53 closed. At this time the so as to create an air-tightflchambcr 166 containing the ladle assembly 10. Any suitable clamping means may, of course, be employed for locking the cover assembly 24 in this position. I 7

Subsequently, the pressure to assemblies 126 and 128 is reversed causing the hook portions to move upwardly a distance sufiicient to raise both the support bar 103 and stopper assembly 92 thereby permitting flow ofmolten metal into conduit 54. I

Super-atmospheric pressure is then applied to the general chamberlo as by means of conduit 168 causing the molten metal in chamber 18 to be forced downwardly thereby flowing molten metal through conduit 54 and into a suitable mold assembly '74-.

. Various modifications of the invention are, of course, possible. For example, considering but a few of such modifications it is apparent. that the support bar 108 could be constructed so as to be hinged at one end and the stopper assembly also hinged thereto by means of Manually operable locking devices 120 and 122' a hinge pin 197 pivotally connecting a yoke member 199, which is secured to top plate 95, to the stopper rod memher 1% as illustrated by FlGURE 5. This would permit the use of only one pressure responsive assembly instead of requiring both res and 128.

Another apparent modification of the invention is the reversal of the bellows member 34. That is, insteadot' being rigidly secured at one end to the adapter 3% or top plate 26, the bellows could be rigidly secured to flange 88. In such a case the free end of the bellows would abutt against a suitable seal and either the adapter till or top plate 2-5." V p I One or" the important advantages of a bellows sealing member is the fact that a more effective seal can be eitectedwith an increase in pressure differential. This is, of course, in contrast to usual mechanical sealing arrangements whereinpossibility of failure increases with increased pressure differentials.

The bellows $4, in order to'overcome such undesirable characteristics of the prior art, provides alower flange portion of such a diameter which enables'the placement of the seal 9%) at a greater radial distance away from the center line than the outer diameter of the bellows convolutions. 'As a consequence thereof, an increase in pres sure in chamber 166 has the net effect of causing the bellows 84 to somewhat lengthen and still further squeeze the seal90. r 1

Still other modifications are contemplated, for example, FIGURE 5 illustrates a sealing arrangement, for a pouring tube of a pressure pouring ladle, comprised of a non-metallic bellows member'll'il, formed of some flexible material such as silicon rubber. The outer diameter of bellows 176i is fixedly secured to the top plate 172 of the cover assembly 173 as by means of a retaining ring 174 and'screws'1'76, while the inner diameter is re tained between a pair of annular clamping plates 178 and 130 held together as by screws 182.

The cover assembly 173 'is lowered onto the abutment 184, as previously described with reference to FIGURES 14, allo'wing the spout 18d of the pouring tube assembly 198 to pass through aperture 192. the radially projecting shoulder 194 contacts clamping plate 185 as'through a suitable seal 1%. The cover as sembly is then lockedinto position by any suitable means. Subsequently, a plurality of peripherally arranged pres sure responsive piston assembliesone of which is shown at 198, are actuated causing'rings 178 and 188 to be urged downwardly against seal 1% which is restrained from movement by shoulder 194. Piston assemblies 1% may, of course, be retained on suitable mounting arrange ments 262 secured to the top plate 172.

A shield assembly 2% comprised of a central collar portion 206 and a generally radially extending flange portion 26.8 may be provided in order to protect the various elements from possible damage due to, for example, accidental spilling'of moltenimetal.

Although only two modifications of the invention have been disclosed, it is apparent that other modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A sealing arrangement for an internally. pressurized outer container adapted torre'ceive therein a ladle structure having an externally. formed. and upwardly projecting pouring'tube comprisinga cover member detachably secured. to said outer container, an aperture formed within saidc-over member for the reception therethrough of said pouring tube, a flange portion formed on and about said pouring tube, and pressure responsive seal In so doing,

ber, a cover assembly adapted to be secured to said outer container in sealing engagement therewith, a ladle body received within said outer container and containing a refractory material therein defining a chamber for the reception of molten metal, said ladle body being formed so as to have an open upper end in communication with said interior chamber of said outer container, 21 generally vertically extending pouring tube assembly formed externally of said ladle body and suitably secured at its one end to a lower portion of said ladle body, a pouring conduit formed within and through said pouring tube, a discharge orifice including a seat formed thereabout communicating between said metal receiving chamber and the lower end of said pouring conduit, a laterally extending stopper support bar disposed above said open end of said ladle body, a pair of parallel guide members secured to the ladle body, a pair of parallel guide holes formed through said support bar for the reception of said guide members therethrough, a downwardly depending stopper member adjustably secured to said support bar intermediate the ends thereof adapted to at times abut against said seat and seal said discharge orifice, said stopper member comprising a generally vertically extending shaft member having upper and lower ends, said lower end of said shaft member being secured to a stopper portion adapted to at times coact with said seat and said discharge orifice, a plurality of tubular sections of a refractory material serially ar ranged atop said stopper portion and in abutting relationship about said shaft member in a manner defining an annular chamber between said shaft member and said tubular sections, a sand mixture filling said annular chamber, a top plate fitted about said shaft and placed on top of the last of said tubular sections, said upper end of said shaft having a threaded portion extending through a hole formed vertically through said support bar, a first locking nut engaging said threaded portion in a manner urging said top plate and tubular sections against said stopper portion, second and third nuts engaging said threaded portion on opposite sides of said support bar in a manner securing said shaft to said support bar, a plurality of locking plates pivotally secured near the ends of said support bar and adapted to at times coact with recesses formed within said guide members for locking said support bar and stopper member in sealing relationship with said seat and discharge orifice, a pair of downwardly depending arm members rigidly secured to said support bar at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of pressure responsive cylinder assemblies pivotally secured at one end to said outer container internally thereof, hook portions formed at the other ends of said pressure responsive cylinder assemblies for at times engaging said arm members, an aperture formed through said cover assembly for the reception therethrough of the upper end of said pouring tube, an anuular gasket member circumscribing said aperture and retained between said cover assembly and an upper ringlike adapter member, an open-ended bellows member located below said adapter and about said pouring tube having its upper-most end rigidly secured in sealing re lationship to said adapter, a first generally radially extending flange portion formed about said pouring tube, a second radially extending flange portion formed about the lower end of said bellows member, and an annular gasket member retained between said first and second flange portions for creating an air-tight seal between the interior of said outer container and the ambient atmosphere.

3. An apparatus for pressure pouring molten metal comprising an outer container. having an interior chamber, a cover assembly adapted to be secured to said outer container in sealing engagement therewith, a ladle body received within said outer container and containing a refractory material therein defining a chamber for the 6 v reception of molten metal, said ladle body being formed so as to have an open upper end in communication with said interior chamber of said outer container, a generally vertically extending pouring tube assembly formed externally of said ladle body and suitably secured at its one end to a lower portion of said ladle body, a pouring conduit formed Within and through said pouring tube, a discharge orifice including a seat formed thereabout communicating between said metal receiving chamber and the lower end of said pouring conduit, a laterally extending stopper support bar disposed above said open end of said ladle body, a pair of parallel guide members secured to the ladle body, a pair of parallel guide holes formed through said support bar for the reception of said guide members therethrough, a downwardly depending stopper member adjustably secured to said support bar intermediate the ends thereof adapted to at times abut against said seat and seal said discharge orifice, said stopper member comprising a generally vertically extending shaft member having upper and lower ends, said lower end of said shaft member being secured to a stopper portion adapted to at times coact with saidseat and said discharge orifice, a plurality of tubular sections of refractory material serially arranged atop said stopper portion and in abutting relationship about said shaft member in a manner defining an annular chamber between said shaft member and said tubular sections, a sand mixture filling said annular chamber, a top plate fitted about said shaft and placed on top of the last of said tubular sections, said upper end of said shaft having a threaded portion extending through a hole formed vertically through said support bar, a first locking nut engaging said threaded portion in a manner urging said top plate and tubular sections against said stopper portion, second and third nuts engaging said threaded portion on opposite sides of said support bar in a manner securing said shaft to said support bar, a plurality of locking plates pivotally secured near the ends of said support bar and adapted to at times coact with recesses formed within said guide members for locking said support bar and stopper member in sealing relationship with said seat and discharge orifice, a pair of downwardly depending arm members rigidly secured to said support bar at opposite ends there of, a plurality of pressure responsive cylinder assemblies pivotally secured at one end to said outer container in ternally thereof, hook portions formed at the other ends of said pressure responsive cylinder assemblies for at times engaging said arm members, an aperture formed through said cover assembly for the reception therethrough of the upper end of said pouring tube, a circular radially extending flange portion formed on-said pouring tube, a flexible sealing member having inner and outer diameters, a first clamping ring engaging said sealing memberin a manner securing said outer diameter to said cover. assembly generally about said aperture, second and third clamping rings disposed above said flange portion and on opposite sides of said sealing member in a manner retaining said inner diameter generally therebetween, an annular sealing member retained between said fiage portion and said second and third clamping rings, and pressure responsive means operatively secured to said cover assembly and located above said second and third clamping rings for urging said second and third clamping rings against said annular sealing member and said flange portion.

4. A sealing arrangement for an internally pressurized outer container adapted to receive therein a ladle structure having an externally formed and upwardly projecting pouring tube, comprising a cover member detachably secured to said outer container, an aperture formed with in said cover member for the reception therethrough of said pouring tube, a circular radially extending flange portion formed on and about said pouring tube, and a flexible sealing assembly operatively engaging said flange portion and said cover member foreifeeting a seal'between said cover member and said flange portion, said flexible sealing assembly comprising a flexible annular sealing member having inner and outer diameters, a first stationary clampingring engagingsaid sealing member in a manner securing said outer diameter in fluid, tight relationship to said cover member, asecond' movable clamping ring having an inner diameter sufficiently large to accommodate the reception therethrough of said pouring tube but small enough so as to abut against said flange portion, a third clamping ring, said second and third clamping rings being disposed on opposite sides of said flexible sealing member in a manner rigidly retaining said inner diameter of said flexible sealing member generally there between, a ring-like resilient sealing member located between and retained by said second clamping ring and said flange portion, and pressure responsive cylinder assemblies located above said second and third clamping rings for urging said second and third clamping rings into sealing engagement with said 'resilientsealing memher, and said fiange portion.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Daesen ,Nov. 29, 1929 Hey, June 6, 1933 Wagner Nov. 20, 1934 Galloway Aug. 6, 1940 Dornauf -1 1 Feb. 9, 1 943 Ling July 17, 1951 Lapin July 26, 1955 Edstrand 2 Dec. 17, 1957 Ziekefoose 1 June 24, 1958 Edstrand Aug. 12, 1958 Strom Sept. 23, 1958 Dunn Dec. 23, 1958 Savage et al. June 9, 1959 Black Sept. 29, 1959 Hursen July 4, 1961 Sylvester L"; May 8, 1962 Vorel June 11, 1963 

1. A SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN INTERNALLY PRESSURIZED OUTER CONTAINER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREIN A LADLE STRUCTURE HAVING AN EXTERNALLY FORMED AND UPWARDLY PROJECTING POURING TUBE, COMPRISING A COVER MEMBER DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID OUTER CONTAINER, AN APERTURE FORMED WITHIN SAID COVER MEMBER FOR THE RECEPTION THERETHROUGH OF SAID POURING TUBE, A FLANGE PORTION FORMED ON AND ABOUT SAID POURING TUBE, AND PRESSURE RESPONSIVE SEALING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESSURE WITHIN SAID OUTER CONTAINER EXTENDING AXIALLY OF AND ABOUT SAID POURING TUBE FOR EFFECTING A SEAL BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND SAID COVER MEMBER. 